Today, Marvel announced a schedule that included an Ant-Man sequel, Captain Marvel and 3 release dates for films not yet announced. As usual, we decided to try and guess what those mystery films could be – and here’s what we came up with.
10. Sinister Six
Now, this one is a long shot. Recently, we heard Drew Goddard discuss that the cancelled film from Sony was definitely still a possibility but that all hinges on what Marvel would like to do. We doubt they’d want to have too many Spider-Man based films but they’ve taken chances before and we’re sure they will again.
Plus, I think there are a lot of fans who would be interested in seeing a movie about the villains, as Spider-Man has some pretty good ones.
9. Blade
We’ve heard Wesley Snipes confirm numerous times that he’s had talks with Marvel about reprising his role as Blade. The movies are popular and Marvel has the rights but we’re not sure that they’d want to make a movie about the character. As you all know, those movies are R-rated and that probably wouldn’t fit well within the MCU. The more likely option for this character is the Netflix Universe – but who knows.
8. Dark Reign
If Civil War will be kicking off because of a mistake made by the Avengers, then this a formula the studio might wish to repeat by adapting one of the storylines that spins out of Secret Invasion, and covers the Dark Reign period.
Marvel really need to improve on their bad guys, and casting an appropriately manipulative Norman Osborn, cashing in on some other future Avenger error is something that audiences would really go for.
Be it Dark Reign itself (Punisher please!), Dark Avengers, or the return of the Asgardians in a Siege adaptation, this is a canon that has real potential to entertain. -Simon Andrews
7. Shadowland
From the direction that the MCU appears to be heading, there’s an emphasis on expanding up and out away from Earth, with conflicts on a galactic scale.
Now that’s all well and good, and I’m sure the results will be satisfying. But hang on, aren’t we mid-way through a deal with Netflix right now to examine the street-level operators and anti-heroes in the MCU?
If you’re looking for a storyline to bring them into line with the Avengers and existing properties, some sort of adaptation of Shadowland would fit the bill. Daredevil gone rogue, pulling other capes to his banner, and requiring Avenger level resources to bring him back down to Earth? Hell yes! – Simon Andrews
6. Annihilation/ Nova
If, however, the Infinity Saga is a great success, Marvel may wish to pursue other avenues out in the depths of space. The Annihilation Wave suddenly sweeping across the cosmos at a time suffering the effects of the Infinity War would mean Nova and the Guardians having to unite with both friends and enemies to stop this seemingly unstoppable threat.
We’ve already seen the Nova Corps, but not Nova himself. Maybe the destruction of the Corps during the Annihilation Wave might be the time for us to see him step up? -Simon Andrews
5. Secret Invasion
With the decision to split the Infinity War over two films, there aren’t many storylines left that could easily be given the same treatment, but one of the ones that could also be played out over two movies is Secret Invasion.
The first film could play out much as Winter Soldier did, with a large-scale political conspiracy seeping through the superhero community, as it becomes apparent that all are not as they seem.
This would then set up a conflict of global proportions in a second film, as the might of a power-augmented Skrull army goes head to head with Earth’s heroes and villains. Plus there will be even more MCU properties having been portrayed onscreen by then to incorporate into the project. -Simon Andrews
4. Solo Hulk Project
With two flawed and ultimately unsatisfying solo films behind him, maybe it’s time for the big green fella to have his own film again? By Phase 4, there’s little doubt that Mark Ruffalo will have been back on our screens as Bruce Banner, and hopefully at some point in be future, the writers will have been able to marry an appropriate script up with Ruffalo’s portrayal to give the Hulk a solo adventure.
We’ve been teased again and again with ‘Planet Hulk’, and with the intergalactic direction the MCU is heading, it would be relatively easy to have him adrift and alone in space, crash landing on a gladiatorial planet.
Or do we return him to earth, and have him go head to head with the Red Hulks and other Earth-based gamma adversaries?
All of this will depend on whether or not Marvel is able to make a deal with Universal for a solo Hulk film. -Simon Andrews
3. Doctor Strange 2
Marvel’s next “original” (not a sequel) film will be Doctor Strange and that comes out on November 4, 2016. While 2020 seems like a long wait for a sequel, as we mentioned before – Marvel isn’t afraid to switch release dates to an earlier time or even a later time.
I guess this will be based on the success of Doctor Strange at the box office – which will most likely be great, as is every Marvel film.
2. Spider-Man 2
I think this is probably the most obvious possibility (besides #1). The Spider-Man reboot is due in 2017 and 2020 (if not sooner) would make a lot of sense – as Marvel seems to like to wait 3 years in between sequels. The character will already be well established within the MCU and we’re sure Marvel has a lot of plans for the web-slinger.
1. Guardians of the Galaxy 3
This is yet another one that makes a great deal of sense. The sequel will be released 3 years after the first film hit theaters – meaning that 2020 would be enough time for a third film to be made. With the success of GOTG, the sequel will most likely make more money, meaning that Marvel will most definitely make this a trilogy.
What do you think the “mystery” films are? Sound off in the comment section below!